Czech Masters 2024 Preview, Picks & Analysis

How life has changed for Francesco Molinari. Six years ago he was basking in reflective glory after seeing off an unlikely challenge from Tiger Woods to win The Open at Carnoustie. He was riding high in the world rankings and just a few weeks later would write a piece of history at Le Golf National by winning a maximum five points as Europe thrashed the USA to win the Ryder Cup.

In the process of those three days in France he formed a stunning partnership with Tommy Fleetwood, the pair going unbeaten in their four matches together in a partnership that would become known as Moliwood.

And in April 2019 he looked like winning The Masters until he came to grief on the back nine on the final day. Woods took full advantage to win his 15th major in the most emotional of circumstances. It was a win for the ages.

But for Molinari it marked the start of a slump in form from which he has yet to recover. He also suffered some injury woes.

And this week he tees it up in the Czech Masters in Prague, desperate for a victory. It is worth reflecting on his career, if only to demonstrate the incredible highs and lows that world-class golfers can endure.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Molinari was born on 8 November 1982 in Turin. He earned his DP World Tour card for 2005 and finished in 86th place on the tour's Order of Merit in his rookie season. In May 2006, he claimed his first European Tour victory, becoming the first Italian since Massimo Mannelli in 1980 to win the Italian Open. He did not win on Tour between 2007 and 2009 but during that time he recorded 20 top-10 finishes including three runner-up finishes. He finished 60th on the Order of Merit in 2007, 24th in 2008 and 14th in the Race to Dubai in 2009. In October 2009, Molinari reached the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time. On 29 November 2009, Molinari, along with his older brother Edoardo, led Italy to their first World Cup victory in China.

On 7 November 2010, he won the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, taking him to 14th in the world rankings. He also recorded 11 top-10 finishes including two runner-up finishes en route to a 5th-place finish in the Race to Dubai. In October 2010, Molinari represented Europe in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, teaming up with his brother in the four-balls and foursomes. He lost his singles match by 4 and 3 against Tiger Woods as Europe won a nail-biter. 

Molinari picked up his third win on the European Tour on 6 May 2012 at the Open de Espana. In July 2012, he lost in a playoff at the Scottish Open. 

Molinari gained an automatic selection for the 2012 Ryder Cup. On the final day, he halved with Woods in the last singles match. The point meant Europe not only completed a comeback from 10-6 down at the start of the final day to retain the cup, but won it outright.

During the 2013 and 2014 seasons Molinari did not register a tournament win, but did earn a full PGA Tour card for the 2014/15 season.

In 2015 and 2016, Molinari shared his time between the European Tour and PGA Tour. In September 2016 he became the first Italian to win his national open twice. In the US, he collected a third place at the 2015 Memorial Tournament and also had a hole in one at the 16th hole during the Phoenix Open.

Molinari recorded his fifth European Tour win and first Rolex Series titles in May 2018, with victory at the BMW PGA Championship. He also claimed the Quicken Loans National on the PGA Tour, a final round of 62 giving him an eight-shot win.

He won The Open with a score of eight under par, paired with Woods in the final round. That success took him to sixth in the world rankings.

In March 2019 he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational. He then led The Masters after 54 holes and was still ahead when he came to the par-three 12th, where his tee shot found the water, resulting in a double bogey. He found the water again on the 15th, which led to another double bogey to fall out of contention. He finished with a round of 74 and T5 finish. And it has been all downhill ever since.

Also in the field for this week’s Czech Masters are two other veterans who know exactly how Molinari feels - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and former US PGA champion Jason Dufner, whose game has been in freefall for a number of years.

The tournament was won last year by England’s Todd Clements, who shot a 63 on the final day. He had missed 10 cuts in what was his maiden season but the victory earned him $340,000, more than tripling his career earnings in one fell swoop.

Tournament Winners:

The event was won in 2015 and 2019 by Thomas Pieters, in 2016 by Paul Peterson, in 2017 by Haydn Porteous, in 2018 by Andrea Pavan and last year by Todd Clements.

The Course:

PGA National OAKS Prague is a par 72 that measures 6,690 yards. Designed by Kyle Phillips, who created the masterpiece that is Kingsbarns, it is a parkland course that boasts generous fairways and plenty of bunkers. It is a course upon which we should see some very low scoring.

To Win:

Ewen Ferguson. Looking for second win of the season

Each Way:

Tom McKibbin. Hugely gifted

Five to Follow:

Ewen Ferguson. Mercurial talent

Tom McKibbin. Fabulous temperament

Matthew Jordan. Underrated

Francesco Molinari. Searching for something

Luke Donald. Can still play